Why do atheist's have to trash believers?

Question

Okay lets say atheist's are right, lets say there is no God. But the fact is that beliving in God does nothing more than make us into better people and help each other. I mean whats wrong with "Love thy neighbor?" "Honor thy father and mother" "Thou shalt not kill?" I mean the govenrment even made them into laws because they were productive to society. The fact is beliving in something just helps you grow as a person and even help you get thru things. Personally I've been in bad situations a lot and looking to God made me feel like I wasnt completly alone. So honestly tell me why do you insult people who belive in God and want nothing more than to just live a happy life and help other people?

I mean't the thou shalt not kill part ther others were obviously examples of my other sentence. Please use common sense being stupid and an atheist really isnt healthy at least if your a beliver God will still take you.

Answer 1

I try not to trash believers (though I can't help but make fun of the really wacky ones on occasion), but I can understand why some of my fellows do. We're a minority. "Atheist" is almost a bad word in this country; it has such a negative connotation with most people. Even religious people who are open minded sort of pause and frown a bit when you tell them you're an atheist.

We feel like we're being attacked sometimes, because there are many religious people who say they don't trust us, that we don't have morals, that they'll never vote for us, even that they think and hope we'll suffer eternal torment. We see the influence they have on politics, and it scare us.

Of course the Bible has some great, progressive stuff in it. It's not the only book that does, it's merely one of many. Every society has laws like those in the Bible - they're common sense secular laws more than religious laws (if everyone went around killing people, society would fail and humans would die out). But the Bible also has some terrible stuff in it, and it turns a lot of people off to the good stuff.

I do want nothing more than to live a happy life and help others. Not everyone feels like they need religion to be a good person. But if belief makes you happy, and helps you be a better person, then go with it. I might not think the way you do, but if you accept me for what I am without any kind of condescending attitude, I'll accept you and we can go volunteer at a soup kitchen together or something. The problem is, that's not all that everyone else wants.

Answer 2

An atheist can just as easily say "Why do theists constantly try to convert me or tell me my souls is condemned?". Most atheists don't go around hunting down theists so they can flush their theology down the toilet. However, it is very difficult for an atheist to see religion as a good thing when the very grounds for it seems like a grand delusion that is used to manipulate millions. Theism looks more like some mental disease or unhealthy crutch than a productive life enriching lifestyle with all the televangelists, cults, strange rituals, and a long long history of crimes against humanity in the name(s) of invisible all powerful entitie(s).

You'll often find that most atheists have wrestled with belief and have researched religion vigorously only to conclude that atheism is not just the truth but a healthier way of thinking. Let me use your own examples. "Love thy neighbor" "Honor thy father and mother" and "Thous shalt not kill" are laws and concepts that are practiced outside of the Christian community and are shared by multiple religious and cultural groups. Also, in cultures and religions that predate Christianity. So then how does it make sense that these were concepts unique to the Christian God when isolated tribes practice these concepts? Yes, in the United States many laws came from biblical concepts but the founding fathers were not all theists and even the theists in the group did their best to make sure that the fledgling country would not end up like many of the colonies that predated the United States. Colonies where different Christian Protestant groups fought terribly with each other, murdered each other, and committed other crimes against humanity too various to list. So the more positive aspects of Christian spirituality were endorsed but there is something to be said when the birth of a nation is founded on a secular government.

Your statement that believing in something helps one grow is true but why can't that be a belief in humanity or in ones self? Why can't you just be strong enough to get through things yourself or with your friends and family?

The need to have a God almost seems just very childish in that one cannot face adulthood all alone so they create an imaginary parent figure to guide them as a parent would, punish them as a parent would and reward them as a parent would. There is also a need to feel special that accompanies theism. I mean if there were a God or Gods why would they be preoccupied with Humans when they have the whole of the universe, reality and time as their playground? To think that such an ultimate being would be completely devoted to humans and your individual salvation is just wow its just such a case of look at me I'm special! I have the attention of Alpha and Omega! I'm the chosen one! We're the chosen ones!

Which of coarse leads to the chosen vs the not chosen and religious wars erupt. So the whole line of thinking that accompanies theism just appears unhealthy to an outsider. Because atheists have always been around. They were included in the founding fathers of this country. They've been artists, leaders and hero's in our history. And their morality did not come from a belief in God. So where did it come from? It came from the ability every person has to be Good and Loving and Healthy on their OWN.

I mean if the point is to have faith isn't it more noble to have faith in your fellow mans ability to be a good person instead of hoping some God made him that way?

Answer 3

You know, if all believers were as reasonable as you and my friend Quiet Warrior, atheists would probably give up making tasteless jokes about them. Problem is, it's not that way.

Have you paid attention recently to what the fundamentalists are doing? Their propaganda and brainwashing has major detrimental effects on America, and on America's image in the rest of the world. Does it scare you that many people are proselytizing in the American military, and using their position to try to change people who have a very different culture? Are you worried about the fact that children are being raised to distrust the scientific method and being rendered wholly unfit for a good university education? Does it bother you that televangelists hold almost hypnotic sway over a substantial portion of the more gullible American public? And make millions and millions of dollars doing it?

Answer 4

I have never "trashed believers". I have no issues with people because of their personal beliefs. If they choose to worship a turnip, I do not really care. I do have issues with the way some people act on their beliefs. Anything that one may say is being done in some god's name is arrogance, plain and simple. If you are to believe in a god, and you believe that you know what is in your god's mind, and you believe that your god is vastly superior to you, then claiming to know what your god wants can only be described as delusional in my opinion.
Morality does not need religion to exist, morality is a dynamic social construct that evolves as society advances. And what laws were made pertaining to "Love thy neighbor?" and "Honor thy father and mother"?

Answer 5

i'm getting it, yet do you recognize why applying a unicorn to swap God to tutor how stupid believing in God is makes a mockery out of persons's concept? Why do you think of human beings could be stated that atheists think of concept is stupid? i do no longer could properly known that. in case you do no longer think of existence has a purpose and which skill, then what's your purpose in criticizing Christians and getting human beings to end believing in God? you have not got self assurance in God, ok, superb, so what? you have no longer have been given a reason to do something, for even modern-day. Now, pass away.

Answer 6

I see a lot of insults on both sides. This is a cultural thing in America. People are encouraged to disrespect and insult anyone they disagree with, people of faith as well as people with no faith. Politicians and religious leaders work to set us against each other for their own purposes, and our culture has become very divisive and mean-spirited.

If you are a genuine believer, you should let such insults wash over you like water on a duck's back. They didn't bother Jesus, did they? A gentle answer turneth away wrath.

You hang out here in the hopes of finding someone who asks a serious question, is interested in a serious discussion.

Answer 7

It would be great if it STOPPED at those three guidelines you mentioned. However, it doesn't always do so. Just look at the Inquisition, Crusades, Salem Witch Trials, Montsegur, abortion clinic bombings, 9/11...

Do I think every theist is a potential terrorist like this? No, of course not. But to say that theism "does nothing more than make us into better people and help each other" is simply not true. There are indeed some dangerous zealots out there.

As for those who "trash believers", some here do that, just as some theists trash atheists or even theists who aren't of the same religion. Keep in mind that this IS the internet and religion is a touchy subject, so it's easy for ANYBODY to lash out or misread the tone of certain posts.

Answer 8

You can also grow as a person being an atheist, dealing with problems in some instances are also easier. I don't like to trash believers, it is when the beliefs are the basis for our laws that problems can and at times do occur.

The fault with false hope is, the real problems are not addressed but rather, it is often pushed to the side. We need to face problems that exist today instead of hoping for something else.

Answer 9

1. Believing in god slows intellectual progress. Mostly in the science department. (Hello, Evolution)

2. The government made laws to protect inalienable rights. Presently, the government is run by religious people... and these religious people are overstepping a lot of boundaries that the original Constitution of the US basically forbade the government to cross.

3. I don't have to love my neighbor or honor my parents, seeing as they're NOT laws.

4. So god made you feel like you had a friend through a tough time. Did you have nice conversations with him? I bet they were pretty one-sided, anyway.

See, god is an illusion. People can trick themselves into thinking what they want (like you tricking yourself so that you didn't feel alone). And that's dangerous. The trick will go too far, and it turns into lying. Lying to yourself, lying to others. And, according to your bible, isn't lying a sin? And still according to your book, aren't all sins equal in the eyes of god? And aren't sins punishable by death? It's a crazy idea to me...

Now, realize, I'm not trashing you... I'm trashing the whole idea of religion. I'm sure you're a very nice person in general.

Answer 10

Ah, how many times have I answered this very question? I wonder. It's because they're a small minority with a persecution complex, they hate Christians and this is the only forum they can get away with venting that hatred. I live in a liberal city that may have the lowest church attendence of any city in the U.S. (Seattle). I go to a liberal, forward thinking university (The University of Washington, take that Boise State!) and I'm from New York, another pretty liberal place. Yet never in my life, have I ever seen an atheist harass or hound Christians, never. On our campus, fundies come and shout at people, hand out leaflets, and stand in the middle of Red Square haranguing students. Does anyone do anything? No. That's why they're here. They hate Christians, because Christians are the majority. They know, they can't simply walk up to Christians and insult them to their faces, so they do it here, behind the anonymity of the internet. That's why. They trash believers because here they can. No other reason.